SWEET LEILANI Written by Harry Owens Sung by Bing Crosby and Dennis Pavao Sweet Leilani, Heavenly Flower Sweet Leilani, Heavenly Flower Sweet Leilani, Heavenly Flower Sweet Leilani, Heavenly flower You are my paradise completed.
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About this song: "Bing Crosby discovered this song in Honolulu while preparing to film the movie, Waikîkî Wedding. [wai KEE' KEE'] To the chagrin of Robin and Rainger, who were writing the songs of Waikîkî Wedding, Bing insisted that "Leilani" [lei lah' nee] be included in the movie. It was, and ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Song of the Year. Bing recorded "Sweet Leilani" Feb. 23, 1937 with Lani McIntire and his Hawaiians. The song spent 25 weeks on the pop charts, including 10 weeks at the top the charts. It became the first of Bing's 22 gold records. The flip side of this record, "Blue Hawai'i" (later made enormously popular by Elvis Presley) also charted as high as No. 5. " ~ Steven Lewis, Bing Crosby's Lyrics
In recent times, Kalapana-raised Dennis Pavao has beautifully sung this song on his Sweet Leilani CD. I love it! And with these words in front of me, I'll be singing along with Dennis' Golden Voice. If you'd like to sing along with us, I'm sure Auntie Maria at www.mele.com can provide needed "assistance."I once sang with Dennis, along with twenty-three of our classmates at a Song Festival in Hilo. We sang Singing Bamboo, another gorgeous song on his Sweet Leilani CD. Who would have known back during those innocent, pre-pubescent years that we had a budding talent among our motley group of 25 kids, which comprised our entire grade level at Pâhoa School. You'd better believe it, we're all so very proud of our homegrown darling, Dennis. 5-5-98 Today is Dad's 76th birthday. Although ailing in bed, he whispered this song in my ear with loving tenderness. Years ago, when I was a little girl growing up in his home next to a rainforest in Puna, Dad would often croon, with great gusto and animated gestures, this mele inoa (name song), which was written by Mr. Harry Owens on the occasion of his own little daughter's birth.
Leilani means "Heavenly Garland," Leilani does not mean Heavenly Flower. Close. Coincidentally, my older sister's name is Pualani! While I knew the literal meanings of our names, it had not occurred to me then that Dad's singing of this mele inoa was "meant" for both of us! Sharing, it's a very Hawaiian thing to do. It warms my heart to know that I share Dad's singing of this song with my beloved and beautiful sister, Pualani, who is truly the "Heavenly Flower." Happy Birthday, Dad! Mahalo.
Links on Sweet Leilani, the Song and Harry Owens: Read more history on the song at Huapala's site Mr. Hawai`i - The Dirty Stinker and Mai Tais Sweet Leilani beat out Shall We Dance by the Gershwins |
You are at: http://hawaiianlanguage.com. |